Vodafone Group Plc (Britain) and private joint-stock company MTS Ukraine are at the early stages of discussing further cooperation, Head of Media at the British operator Ben Padovan told Interfax-Ukraine.

He said that MTS Ukraine has been partner of Vodafone since 2008 when the companies signed an agreement on a strategic partnership.

"The two companies are at the early stage of discussing further cooperation in the country, I cannot add anything at present," Padovan said.

The press service of MTS Ukraine did not comment on the issue.

Earlier, Ukrainian and Russian media outlets reported that negotiations between the companies were taking place.

On Friday, Russia's Vedomosti, referring to its own sources, said that the sides are mulling the signing of a franchise agreement, under which MTS Ukraine could get a chance to operate under the brand of the British operator. Vedomosti also said that this could concern an option for Vodafone to buy a minority stake in the Ukrainian company.

As reported, in August Vodafone registered the M-Pesa mobile-phone based money transfer trademark in Ukraine.